Stereo Brain // 2016 Awards Results

Thanks to everyone who voted in this years Stereo Brain Awards. The public vote scores have been added to our Stereo Brain scores - here are the results!

CARDIFF AWARDS - BEST BAND

Chroma @ Gwdihw Cafe Bar 23/11/16
(Photo: Robin Norman Photgraphy)

1st Place - CHROMA

The bi-lingual 3 piece from Pontypridd have had a mega 2016. They released an excellent debut EP which has been backed up by a string of impressive live performances across the city. With support from BBC horizons, being added to the Forte Project roster for 2017 and a new single imminent - CHROMA are set to go from strength to strength and are deserved winners of this award!
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2nd Place - The Fused
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3rd Place - Local Enemy
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CARDIFF AWARDS - BEST PROMOTER

1st Place - Young Promoters Network

The Young Promoters Network (or YPN) is an organisation made up of people under the age of 25 with the aim of putting on gigs, supporting the local music scene and supporting young people who want to be involved in the music industry. This year YPN began a partnership with Forte Project, created an organisation called W.O.M.E.N and provided one of the highlights at Swn festival with the inclusion of BETSY in their line up.
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2nd Place - Luckyman Records
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3rd Place - Orchard Entertainment
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CARDIFF AWARDS - BEST FESTIVAL

1st Place - Swn Festival

Swn Festival, now in it's 10th year, triumphed musically both locally and nationally. With a wonderful array of upcoming talent from all over the country and most importantly from South Wales the festival was jam packed with absolute gems.

2nd Place - HOYfest

HOYfest, in it's first year, deserves a mention too. A wonderful line up of exciting and new indie acts. The highlights included wonderful headline sets from hotly tipped VANT and indie-funkers (who were 2nd place in last years Stereo Brain Album Of The Year) The Milk.

3rd Place - Dim Swn

BEST EP OF 2016

1st Place - CHROMA // CHROMA EP

2nd Place - VANT // Karma Seeker EP


3rd Place - Montreux Fires // Trying For The Sake Of Trying



BEST SONG OF 2016

1st Place - Blink-182 // Bored To Death

Blink 182's latest album is a step forward for the band. Leaving behind Tom Delonge they've produced, arguably, some of the best material of their career. This includes a fantastic sing along single in 'Bored To Death'.



=2nd Place - Twenty One Pilots // Heathens
=2nd Place - Biffy Clyro // Wolves Of Winter
=2nd Place - Enter Shikari // Hoodwinker

Artist Spotlight // Enter Shikari

Enter Shikari @ The Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff - 26.02.16

Members:
Rou Reyenolds, Chris Batten, Rob Rolfe, Rob Clewlow

Location:
St Albans, Hertfordshire

Description:
Hectic electronic infused post hardcore

Songs To Get You Started:
Redshift (2016), Sorry You're Not A Winner (2004), Anaesthetist (2015), Gandhi Mate Gandhi (2012), Mothership (2007)

Discography:
Studio Albums:

1. Take To The Skies (2004)
2. Common Dreads (2009)
3. A Flash Flood Of Colour (2012)
4. The Mindsweep (2015)
5. The Mindsweep: Hospitalised (2015)

EP's & Singles:

1. Nodding Acquaintance (2003)
2. Sorry You're Not A Winner (2003)
3. Anything Can Happen In The Next Half Hour (2004)
4. Mothership (2006)
5. Sorry You're Not A Winner/OK Time for Plan B (2006)
6. The Zone (2007)
7. Anything Can Happen In The Next Half Hour (2007)
8. Johnny Sniper (2007)
9. We Can Breathe In Space, They Just Don't Want Us To Escape (2008)
10. Juggernauts (2009)
11. No Sleep Tonight (2009)
12. Live at Milton Keynes - Bootleg Series Volume 1 (2009)
13. Tribalism (2010)
14. Thumper (2010)
15. Destabilise (2010)
16. Live at Rock City - Bootleg Series Volume 2 (2010)
17. Live from Planet Earth - Bootleg Series Volume 3 (2011)
18. Quelle Surprise (2011)
19. Sssnakepit (2011)
20. Gandhi Mate, Gandhi (2011)
21. Live in London NW5 2012. EP (2012)
22. Live In London. W6. March 2012. - Bootleg Series Volume 4 (2012)
23. Arguing With Thermometers (2012)
24. Warm Smiles Do Not Make You Welcome Here (2012)
25. Live in the Barrowland - Bootleg Series Volume 5 (2013)
26. The Paddington Frisk (2013)
27. Rat Race (2013)
28. Radiate (2013)
29. Rat Race EP (2013)
30. The Last Garrison (2014)
31. Anaesthetist (2015)
32. Slipshod (Urbandawn Remix) (2015)
33. Covers (2015)
34. Live & Acoustic at Alexandra Palace (2016)
35. Redshift (2016)

Social Media:
Enter Shikari Twitter
Enter Shikari Facebook

Find more articles on Enter Shikari HERE

Find more artist spotlights HERE

Enter Shikari // Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff // 23.02.16

It was a cold quiet February Tuesday night in Cardiff and the Motorpoint Arena opened it's doors at 6. Hoards of gig goers flocked in for a show many of them had been anticipating for months. The excitement building, a buzz in the air as 7pm ticked closer and closer.The lights dimmed bringing the 3 quarters filled hall to a standstill.

One of the huge appeals of this tour was not just the headline act Enter shikari who themselves are incredible, but the quality of the bands supporting them. Most excitingly The King Blues who were returning for the first time on tour after 'splitting up' 4 years ago. Itch and the band had been tearing up political punk rock since about 2004 with numerous LP's reflecting Itch's objection to politics and also his personal struggles. When the band split in 2012 it sent shock waves through the world of punk rock and a lot of people were sad to see them go.

King Blues @ The Motorpoint Arena (photo by Ben Cowper)

Understandably the crowd were excited to see them back. Having released an EP 'Off With Their Heads' not much longer than a week before not only was it a chance to see a band which everyone thought had run their course but to hear some of their new material for the first time. Itch and the gang did not dissapoint, getting the crowd going with a set of old favourites, a call to protest against Cardiff Arms Fair and a brilliant rendition of their new single 'Off With Their Heads'. They were everything that was expected of them and more, so good in fact that they had the room calling for an encore.

The King Blues @ The Motorpoint Arena

However The King Blues had to give way for another incredible support act. All the way from the US the next support band were The Wonder Years, bring their brand of sad pop punk to Cardiff. Opening with 'Cardinals' and '& Brothers'; two songs that start off their latest album in an anthemic and hair raising fashion, they then led into a set filled with songs from every album. Fan favourite 'Passing Through A Screen Door' went down a treat with fans and new comers a like. Those unaware of The Wonder Years before the night soon became familiar with their tried and tested pop punk formula  and as the set went on more and more people in the hall were getting into the music, with mosh pits opening up left, right and centre.

The Wonder Years @ The Motorpoint Arena

As support acts go, Enter Shikari or whoever manages their tours did a fantastic job. With the crowd thoroughly warmed up and already sweating, The Wonder Years ended their set and the crowd waited in anticipation as behind a huge black curtain you could see lights flashing through, drum kits testing, the crowd knew there was something big was to be revealed. As the clock ticked round to 9pm there was a countdown in a deep synthesised voice.
"3 minute"
"2 minutes until show time"
"1 minute to go"
The lights dimmed.

The impressive thing about Shikari is their creativity. The genre which they fit into is a combination of electronic, metal, post hardcore and the remnants of rap metal, something not unheard of, but something they achieve with brilliance on record and in a live environment.

Enter Shikari @ The Motorpoint Arena

As if that wasn't enough Rou and the boys extend their creativity to live shows. As the band has progressed up the musical ladder its become easier for them to express themselves with extravagant shows with stunning lighting rigs and incredible sound and boy where the crowd at The Motorpoint Arena treated to a show.

Enter Shikari @The Motorpoint Arena (photo by Ben Cowder)

The curtain dropped revealing drummer Rob Rolfe's elevated stand and the band's logo suspended in metal from the rafters. Launching into the set with old favourite 'Enter Shikari' it took very little time for the crowd to rile up and become raucous, chanting back at the band "and still we will be here, standing like statues". Shikari created an atmosphere that made hairs stand on end, smashing through a set covering their entire discography, from studio albums new and old and one of singles, no one was left disappointed.

Enter Shikari @ The Motorpoint Arena (photo by James Aylward)

However, the most impressive thing about Enter Shikari was their inventiveness. With easy transitions mixing one track into the other, Rou's improvised vocals at the end of 'Radiate' and a spontaneous rendition of 'Angels' by Robbie Williams they had the crowd captivated and in the palm of their hand throughout the show. As a band they do so much more than perform songs, they create a show, a spectacle. A tactic that is slowly propelling them away from being an act on their way to the top to one that is already there.

Enter Shikari @ The Motorpoint Arena (photo by Robert Harris)

-Luke

Stereo Brain Music Awards 2015 Winners

Breakout Band Of 2015

This was a really tough one, some amazing acts have broken out this year. But the winner for us has to be Slaves. With numerous appearances on Radio 1's Live Lounge, a killer debut album and bringing punk back to the public eye and to a younger generation. Not to mention we saw them 3 times! A great year for Slaves, they deserve this one

Debut Album Of The Year

Again another tough choice with Wolf Alice, Kagoule and Jamie XX all producing stunning debuts but this one goes to 'Are You Satisfied' by Slaves. Thoroughly deserved, a wonderful album!

Best Festival Performance Of The Year

This was definitely the toughest decision. Some incredible performances at some amazing festivals but for us it had to be the Foals secret set at Reading Festival. An amazing set, absolutely blew us away (and a tip of the cap to Slaves who had to follow it).

Album Of The Year

Now. The Big One.

In 3rd Place.... 'The Mindsweep' by Enter Shikari. Building on an already awesome discography this album was beautiful, angry music to our ears.

In 2nd Place... 'Favourite Worry' by The Milk. Not one everyone will own, but an incredible album; soulful, interessting, different. Everything you could want in a nice chilled out album.

But the winner, making it 3 out of 4 awards is 'Are You Satisfied' by Slaves. An awesome album, what more can I say!!

Album Of The Year pt.2

So it's 10 days until we reveal who won our Album Of The Year.
But today we take our (very) long list and reduce it to a short list of 10 who could win the award, here we go:

Positive Songs For Negative People // Frank Turner

This his 6th studio album, Frank has again surpassed himself on this one. A Fantastic albu that just grows on you and takes so many emotional highs and lows it's impossible to ignore!
Our full review from the release here

The Mindsweep // Enter Shikari

Enter Shikari never dissapoint but this album is just fantastic. Simultaneously getting heavier and more electronic whith very political lyrics, it ticks every box. We love it!

Are You Satisfied? // Slaves

Again another incredible album. Slaves debut album has taken 2015 by storm and helped punk rock rear its ugly head in the public eye once again. With 3 fantastic performances on Radio 1 live lounge to get under their bel as well, it's been a fantastic year for the kent duo.

Favourite Worry // The Milk

A very different album to that of Slaves and Enter Shikari. Soulful. Smooth. Catchy. A brilliant album nonetheless, following on from a frantic first album this is an incredible addition to the discography and I can't wait to see what the band do next. A brilliant album also one of BBC 6 Musics albums of the year, worthy of winning any award.
Read our full review here.

Key Markets // Sleaford Mods

A truly divisive album this one, raw and political it doesnt tug at the heart strings. It just says what needs to be said and lyrically brilliant (if a bit explicit) in every song.

White Men Are Black Men Too // Young Fathers

I feel like we've covered an odd selection of genres in this list added to by the Scottish genre breaking tunes of Young Fathers. Having won the mercury prize in 2014 with a stunning debut, this has been a fantastic follow up. An inventive and interesting albu, with some fanastic songs.

What Went Down // Foals

Foals have taken 2015 by storm; an amazing secret set at Reading Festival and a killer new album. Topped to headline many festivals in 2016 this album might be what propels them from a good band to a great one.

My Love Is Cool // Wolf Alice

Another band who, like Slaves, have exploded into the public eye. They owned the summer busting out incredible festiival show after incredible festival show. Not only that their album is catchy and takes the world of indie in a slightl different direction - hopefully far far away from the direction bands like Years & Years are taking it.

Urth // Kagoule

Grungy and miserable is the tone of Kagoule's debut album and we love it. Reaching the top 10 in the vinyl charts this album has made its rounds this year amd there's a good reason why.

That's The Spirit // Bring Me The Horizon

Every album BMTH release they impress me more and more, adapting their style, making it reach a wider audience while still maintaining their original style. Being on before Metallica at Reading & Leeds is not something you'd expect from a band that started as a hardcore band. The new album has reached a wider audience and propelled them up to a much more prominent position amongst the metal elite.

Album Of The Year

Our 'short' list for Album Of The Year!

Before the 31st of December this going to be reduced slowly. Let us know who you think should win (or if we missed any) in the comments section below.